12 YEARS PEOPLE, 12 YEARS!!!

That's right! I've been married to this wonderful man for 12 years today! It's been wonderful and I wouldn't trade him for a thing!!!!! I love you Honeybee!!!!!!!!! Thanks for everything! It's been a wonderful ride so far.....

"Mary Did You Know"

[Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene]

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you knowthat your Baby Boy has come to make you new?

This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?

Did you knowthat your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.

The deaf will hear.

The dead will live again.

The lame will leap.

The dumb will speak The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you knowthat your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you knowthat your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

I just heard this song on the radio and CRIED! I've heard it before, but WOW! I had to google the lyrics and reading them was even more powerful! What a wonderful song! I highlighted a few of my favorite lines! Enjoy!

Who's Team are YOU on???

So this is my latest craft! What do you think? I know there are a TON of Twilight fans out there, so why not make a little mulah off them??? :o) Really I'm thinking these could be a HUGE hit at a craft fair! So you want one? Know anyone who might want one? I'm thinking of a good price for them....$15-20 seem fair?

Feedback, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No way, No how, Never AGAIN!!!

So I made a new friend a few months ago. We've been pretty attached at the hip of late. So when she asked me to go to a Haunted House...I stupidly gave in! I didn't want to do it! She really thought I was just putting up a front, but I was really scared. I give her a hard time about being "goth" b/c pretty much she IS!!! :o) She loves the store HOT TOPIC...that store scares me! She is WAY cool though even if she likes freaky things, like that picture up there!!


So back to the HH story...we had a nice dinner date with another couple from church so the evening started out well. I will say that a certain someone (Steph) was just about as scared as I was! (thank goodness) So we get to the HH and buy our tickets and have to wait about 45 minutes. During which time I was so anxious and worked up about NOT wanting to go in that I was in the NASTY porta potty with diarrhea! EEEEWWW!!! When I came out there was an old friend from HS who's a cop now there. I went and asked if I could borrow his gun and/or taser to take in with me...NO GO on that one!


So we make our way in and I think I'm gonna be ok. I had talked my self into just trying to laugh all the way through. You know I was thinking of baby unicorns, butterflies, cute little people! Those kind of things! Do you think it worked? Hell to the NO!!! Two minutes into it I was freaked out! There was this little black girl with her face all painted and stuff like right in my face when the strobe light came on! After I screamed in her face REALLY loud and peed a little I didn't open my eyes the rest of the way through, unless I knew it was safe! (which wasn't very often!)


I also had Matt's waist band wrapped around my fingers in a death grip. He had one helluva wedgie! I kept my head in between his shoulder blades! The thing was freakin 25 minutes long! And at the end you just have to wind through this competely dark maze with NO guide! IT SUCKED! My arms have bruises on them! NOT COOL! So while I was holding onto him for dear life, Steph was behind me with a grip on my arms and jacket and every once in awhile her head in between MY shoulder blades! I screamed SO much and SO loud once it hurt MY ears!


So needless to say....I will never, ever, ever do that again! Sorry Chrissy you are on your own friend!


The dinner and ice cream were fab though! Oh and the company!!! :o)

This doesn't mean I'm not quitting.....

Here are a few of my most recent craft projects. Enjoy!

This is Mr. Pumpkin! I love him! I need to stuff him some more, but he's cute!

Here is a board sign I made and a old picture frame I turned into a Ghost decoration.

This is my Antique store find! It is an old fireplace insert. I took the middle out painted it with chalk board paint and painted the frame. I am going to decorate the flower that is in the middle to once I decide I'm done with it. I like it, but I may be changing the frame color. IDK, I'm not sure I like the beige. What do you think?

Dear Blog....

I think I'm quitting you.....

to be continued!!!!

BLAST FROM THE PAST

I was looking through old pictures the other day and found a few I thought I would share with my blog world! So prepare yourselves to be AMAZED!!!! LOL!!!

ME & GARY BENNETT (my little buddy)

RENEE, ME, KRISTINA

My Matt & Matt Moss (I stole this one off FB)

My oldest child

I can hardly believe that THIS little guys is now 12!!!!!!!!! WOW how time flies! I forgot to do his bday post since we were on vacation so I'm a little late! I never knew 12 years of my life could fly by so fast! It's sad and great all the same time! He was ordained and received his preisthood last Sunday! We are so proud of you! Keep it up pal!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Johnathan Kadence Mondier!

Random Post About Nothing!

So I don't really have much to blog about lately! You know life is just the same for us! Isn't that pitiful? The same!!! Does anyone else ever get tired of the same? Not in a bad way, but just wishing that some changes could have been made this year with Matt's job. We have pretty much made the decision to move if he doesn't get a teaching job next year. And we may just look elsewhere all together.

I've decided there are small blessings in living away. Things you don't necessarily think of when you live away. Although it will be hard to be away from family I think it's what will be best for us in the long run. The boys are OK with it and even excited about the possibility of a move. We are thinking St George or Logan, UT and the Phoenix/Mesa area of AZ. I will be perfectly happy with either one. Arizona pays more for Matt's career. I can get a job pretty much anywhere with my SKILLSSS!!!! :o) If we do move.......we will not move again. It will be our final move until the kids are done with school. I don't want to keep that up while they are in school.

So those are my rambling thoughts for the day! Sorry there's no picture with this wonderful post! I just felt the need to ramble! There are many things I need to get off my chest, but I need the right forum. You know things that you just need to bounce off of others to have your feelings validated? Maybe I will begin an anonymous blog so no one knows who is writing it! Now there's an idea! Hmmmm......

Family Pics

Here are a few of the family pictures we had made while we were out in Utah. I think they turned out really nice. Especially since we did them ourselves with the help of Chana's sister!

Vacation Post

It's been awhile since I've posted. We were on vacation for about 10 day. We decided at the last minute to drive out to Utah and surprise my brother for his birthday. The drive is never the best part of the vacation, but it wasn't that bad. We really had a great time. The more I'm out there the more I want to move out there. I think Logan has a magical spell on me!

We were able to go 4wheeling up Logan Canyon, thanks to Chana's parents. It was so much fun we were up in the mountains for about 5 hours. It was fun to get nice and dirty! The boys really enjoyed it. We even took Lukas along, he napped twice! How he slept on the back of a 4wheeler is beyond me, but he did it.

We also got to go boating at Utah Lake. That was a blast as well. Another thank you to Chana's parents. The boys tubed for the first time and so did Grace! She did very good! Johnathan and Lukas slept on the shore! (party poopers!) Christina and Michael were able to join us for this! They both tubed, Michael tried to ski...the water was too choppy, Christina tried to wakeboard. NO LUCK! We really enjoyed our visit and can't wait to go back...SOOON!!!!

We also had some pictures taken since all of the siblings were together. So we made a collage for Mom for her birthday.

Here are a few pictures of the vaca:

Sorry Michael! My picture of you is while you were tubing so it's not too clear!

Just for Chana!

Dear Chana,

I know you miss us and that you wish you could be around us all the time, but alas it can't happen right now. I understand you having a hard time dealing with this situation. I mean who wouldn't want to be around us all the time? With our 2 wonderful "pre-teen" boys and their attitudes it's a blessing each and every day to be in their good graces!

So just a little update on life so that you can at least feel like you are here with us:

~Kourtland had his 9th bday. He and Matt went to see Rascal Flatts and had a wonderful time. Minus the heat, no seats, 2 1/2 hour wait to get out of the parking lot, having to pay $75 for a hotel last minute b/c it took so long to get out of the parking lot that it was too late to drive home.

~Kourtland got a new nephew for his bday! That's right, Matt's sister adopted a baby and he was born on Kourtland's bday! Isn't that special? Noone will ever be able to top that gift!

~We are having the boys bday party this week at the Alma water park. We've rented it out so that only our friends and family will be there to swim. It will be a blast and we are all ready to play. Wish you could be here for that for sure! We will just have to be flushed down the toilet bowl slide without you this year though.

~We tried to call you like a gazillion times on your birthday, but you didn't answer the phone! We were pretty bummed. You just miss us, but not enough I guess. So finally Joseph answered and we were able to sing to you via his phone. SPECIAL!!!!

~We cooked out on the 4th of July and it rained! It was a good time. We didn't get to see fireworks b/c of the rain.

~Kourtland has a pet turtle. He's a small guy, his name is Shelldon. (with 2 l's) He now has a tadpole too. He is patiently waiting for it to turn into a frog so he can scare Grace with it! FUN!

~Grace and I have been shopping for her wedding dress! That has been fun. Out of the stores we've been to so far NONE of them have any dresses with sleeves. Imagine that! One lady told us "that is so not in style!" I know modesty is SO OVERRATED!!! RIGHT?

~Kadence went to his first basketball camp of the summer. He attended the University of Arkansas bball camp. He had a good time. He had to do chores and help the grandparents to raise money for it. He made $160! The camp only cost $150 so he had some money to spend since we helped pay for the camp. He bought a new pair of Jordan's of course!

~Kadence was asked to attend another camp while at camp! Ooohhh,,,,ahhhh!!! He also won the Gatorade award at camp. We still aren't sure what it was for, but we think his hustle! And who cares he won an award, right?

~Kadence starts Jr. High this year, did you know that? I am such an old hag! WOW! I can't believe it. I sure miss my little baby boy!

~Matt has still NOT found a teaching job! It pretty much sucks, but we are dealing with it. Some better than others. We are just thankful he has a good job until one turns up.

~We are going on vacation in a few weeks. Still don't know where yet b/c we keep changing our minds, but it's a vacation none the less!

~I will work on getting some pictures posted soon. I've been kinda busy lately. So maybe next month! :o)

~Matt's dad starts his chemo this week so we are hoping for a smooth, quick treatment there. Please remember him in your prayers!

~Lukas is growing at an alarming rate! I don't want him to grow up. Johnathan & Grace say they are going to try again later this year so maybe it won't be so bad! I don't know what it is about that little guy, but he has me wrapped around his little fingers!

~I promise to love your kids just as much! And even more if you will move to Arkansas when you have them? Deal???? Come on, live dangerously!

Ok, I hope that is enough information to satisfy your needs for now. I now I kinda suck at blogging regulary, but I will try to get better. So there! KthanxBYE!!!!

Love,
Mandy

Happy Birthday Kourtland

Can anyone tell me how this.....

Turns into this....????

It's so hard to believe that my BABY is 9 today! It really just seems like yesterday I was sending out birth announcements! Happy Birthday Kourt!!! I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now...STOP growing up!!!!

Fun with Lukas!

Here are a few more fun pictures from the boys and I playing with Lukas before he left for Alaska for 2 WHOLE WEEKS!!!! What am I gonna do????? He looks so big in these!

Don't you just want to squeeze him??? I do!!! :o) It's gonna be a long 2 weeks!!!

Lukas is 1!!!!!

So Lukas is no longer a baby and I know I am not his mother, but I don't like it one bit! I am not happy that he no longer wants to cuddle with me like he used to. He would rather be up chasing the boys around and doing whatever they are. He really thinks he is a big kid just like them. I love being an Aunt. It is probably my most favorite thing next to being a mom and wife. I wish my other siblings would get busy baby making so I could have some more!!! (and move to Arkansas so I can spoil them) It just takes me back to the old days when my kids were little and cute.... :o)

Here are a few pictures of him eating his birthday cake. Happy Birthday Lukas, I love you!!! Your favorite person in the whole wide world!!!!

Isn't he so cute! He was so tired that I am positive he ran off pure sugar from that cake the rest of the day!!!! It was a fun day!!! Thank goodness we are getting another baby in the family next month to carry us all over until the next one arrives!!!! :o)

Isn't this cute???

Kourtland & Slinky.

This picture was taken for the cutest pet contest at school. Don't know if we won or not yet, but he is the cutest pet to us. Slinky NOT Kourtland!!! :o)

Serious Question...

Do you know what this picture is for? Don't cheat!!! No googling or asking.....comment and let me know. And in a few days I will let you know what I have thought it meant ALL these years! It's pretty darn funny!!! If you really don't know don't feel stupid. I am sure it's not as bad as what I thought it was..... :o)

Oh there's more.....

So here are just a few more random pictures of our spring break.....

The boys at the Zoo and Dave & Busters


Ok, I will stop for now!!!!!!!!! Wow, it sucks to get behind on my blogging duties! Too many fun things to put on here! Enjoy!!!

You just thought that was all.....

I forgot to tell you who chased me down in the mall and proposed to me. You are never going to believe it, but since he is SO fast and strong he caught me. I had to break his heart though b/c Matt is totally hotter than movie Edward...now book Edward maybe!!!! :o) Enjoy!!!!


Disclamer: This is NOT I repeat NOT a cardboard cutout!!!

Quick Update

Well things have been a little busy around here lately, but I just wanted to get on here and update everyone on what's been going on. For spring break we went to a Jazz and OKC Thunder game. It was in Oklahoma City and we spent 2 days there with Johnathan, Grace and Lukas. We all enjoyed the game and the Jazz won!!!! Here is a picture from the game while the boys waited for autographs. They were really excited they got a lot of autographs and Matt and Johnathan got to talk to the Jazz coach Jerry Sloan! That made the BIG boys happy! The boys got Ronnie Brewers autograph by calling the Hogs to get him to come over and then they wished him Happy Birthday! He was pretty surprised that they knew that. (it was his bday that day!)

Then we went to Tulsa the next weekend just to hang out and go to the Zoo and do some shopping! That turned out to be an eventful weekend! We got there and woke up to snow the first morning so I made the boys do this:


I mean really now snow on spring break in the SOUTH????? Holy cow!!! So we settled for a movie and shopping for spring break!

The end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to this GUY!!!

Sorry to use that picture AGAIN, but I LOVE it!!! Happy Birthday Honeybee. I LOVE YOU!!!!

Good Times....

So this weekend I got to go see my best friend from HS and it was a great time. We haven't seen or talked to each other in almost 12 years so it was a lot of fun catching up with her. Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure! :o)

This is 2 of her kids with my 2. Her oldest Xavier is one month older than Kadence and Isaiah is 6. She also has a 3 year old daughter Olivia that I didn't get to meet this time around b/c she was with her grandpa so NEXT time! It was a great time and I am so glad to see that she is doing well!

And......(look at post below this goes with it!)

Ok, so as I was downloading those I realized there are A LOT of Lukas!!! Don't you love the one of Matt??? Love ya Honeybee!!! (I would totally kill him if he posted a pic of me looking like that, but I know he thinks it's funny!) So, here are a few more! These first ones are for YOU Chana!!!